Funding
The Trust is in the fortunate position in that it holds the freehold of the former Ellesmere Cottage Hospital and the surrounds without any financial encumbrance.
However the Trust has no material financial reserves, the property income derived from, and occupancy arrangements with, Bethphage and Churchmere just about cover the standing property and other annual costs of the Trust.
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The Trust is therefore reliant on fund raising for any expenditure incurred by the Trust, other than minor maintenance costs.
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Historically the Trust did benefit from quite regular bequests from locally based residents, but with the closure of the Nursing Home in 2017, such bequests have largely ceased.
The League of Friends, through their Charity Shop, is currently the main source of financial assistance that enables the Trust to consider any major maintenance work on the former Cottage Hospital.
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Given the very considerable potential long-term property maintenance works that will inevitably be required to sustain the fabric of the former Cottage Hospital, the Trust is proposing to launch a Building Fabric Fund Raising Appeal. It is hoped this exercise will assist in ensuring that the 100-year-old heritage embodied in the former Ellesmere Cottage Hospital is maintained for long-term future benefit of the community.